Thursday, March 26, 2009

Well, we've been hinting at this for about six months now. Some of you traditionalists have been asking when and how and where and when you can buy printed versions of the ComicMix comics. I'm proud to announce that we have partnered up with our friends at IDW (where GrimJack and Jon Sable Freelance and Mars last appeared) to produce one graphic novel and two comic books each month, starting this fall. Plus hardcovers and omnibuses and such, as the market demands.

O.K., I'm one of those traditionalists as well, and while I love reading this stuff online (particularly on my iPhone), I'm looking forward to seeing them in print. And I'm looking forward to running my typical long-winded introductions in the trades and letter columns -- yet, genuine letter columns! -- in the comics.

So if you'd like to email us a letter for publication, just post 'em as comments to the comics. Oh, yeah, we're starting off with GrimJack: The Manx Cat and Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden in mini-series format. As if we should start somewhere else? IDW's press release, for the record:

SAN DIEGO, CA (March 25, 2009) – IDW Publishing, a leading publisher of comic books and graphic novels, has begun an innovative partnership with ComicMix.com, a free website offering new and classic comics. Through this multi-year agreement, IDW will publish graphic novels, books and comics for ComicMix.com properties, enabling both companies to expand their offerings to customers and retailers, and combine their audience reach.

“ComicMix has a great line up of original and classic brands that are currently only available online, and despite the shift to the virtual world, there is still something unmistakable about reading a real-life book” said Greg Goldstein, chief operating officer of IDW. “IDW is known for producing some of the highest quality books in our industry, and we are looking forward to offering this to fans of ComicMix properties.”

Beginning in the fall of 2009, IDW will release trade paperbacks of ComicMix comics, as well as monthly comics, including many new stories that have previously been only available online at ComicMix.com. Initial titles will include GrimJack: The Manx Cat by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman, Jon Sable Freelance: Ashes of Eden by Mike Grell, and Hammer of the Gods by Mark Wheatley and Mike Avon Oeming, among others.

“This is a bit of a homecoming for many of us at ComicMix, because we have had a professional relationship with IDW Publishing over the past several years,” ComicMix Editor-In-Chief Mike Gold noted. “We’re honored to be among such first-rate comics and graphic novels. Quite frankly, I don’t think the ComicMix properties could find a better publishing home than IDW.”

The partnership with ComicMix allows IDW to distribute comics via mobile devices, increasing the company's growing digital, downloadable publishing program, which already includes several major titles such as Star Trek: Countdown and Ghostbusters.

About IDW Publishing

IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including television's #1 prime time series, CBS' “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation;” Paramount's “Star Trek;” Fox's “Angel;” Hasbro's “The Transformers;” and the BBC's “Doctor Who.” IDW's original horror series, "30 Days of Night," was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released "Michael Recycle," the first title from its new children's book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.

Friday, March 13, 2009

I'll be at CUT! Film Festival celebrating the 25th Anniversary of "Robin of Sherwood" with my old mate Jason Connery and a few other lads. I hope you'll join or check back here to see video and pics from the event. Mike Grell will be there too and we'll be discussing Comics in Film.

Los Angeles, CA – March 13, 2009: Mark Ryan will join former “Robin of Sherwood” mate, Jason Connery, at CUT! Film Festival 2009 for a screening to celebrate the show’s 25th Anniversary and a discussion about the show’s loyal fan base. Ryan will also sit on a Comics panel with Mike Grell, with whom he partnered to create “The Pilgrim,” a graphic novel based on true accounts of paranormal espionage, currently available at ComicMix.com. CUT! Film Festival 2009 is a benefit and celebration of cinema dedicated to the art and imagination that goes into the creation of film. This year’s event takes place the weekend of March 14-15, 2009 at the historic Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, CA.

WHY: “Robin of Sherwood” has enjoyed a loyal fan base that keeps the show alive via web groups, fan clubs and conventions both in America and the U.K. Mark Ryan has had a successful career since his days as a merry man, including voicing Bumblebee in the box office hit, “Transformers” and partnering with legendary illustrator, Mike Grell to create “The Pilgrim” graphic novel. Ryan recently launched a musical project nearly 20 years in the making, based on Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights,” which he plans to bring to the big screen soon and is currently available on iTunes. He has also signed on with Mighty Finn Productions for 3 upcoming projects including “Robbing Bingo,” which will reunite Ryan with Sherwood cast mate, Ray Winstone (Beowulf.) Ryan will pull triple duty on the film as Associate Producer, Actor & Action Coordinator.

For more information and all media inquiries regarding Mark Ryan, The Pilgrim and Wuthering HeightsMusic, please contact Angela Moore at 310-429-8868 or angela@starfish-pr.com

The Wildwood Tarot - New Official Website

Wuthering Heights Music on Amazon (listen now)

Who is Mark Ryan?

From the Sherwood Forest and the London stage to swordmastery and autobots, Mark Ryan has had one of the most diverse and interesting careers of anyone in entertaiment. Stop by now and again a peek into Mark's remarkable life.